Breaking News: 1500-foot Tower at 1800 Arch? - Page 7 - PhillyBlog

I'mSoRad2.0 · #61 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 12:51 PM

Nice looking tower.
But man honestly, I'm skeptical that it will get built.

Is there really a demand, market wise for a building like this?

PhillyBoy · #62 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastChestnut

Nothing would please me more than to see Verizon corporate relocate next to Comcast's tower, move out of New York, and stick the tower up Comcast's ass.

If you move all the NYZ peons out of NYC to Philadelphia, Verizon could probably slash their DSL rates by 3-4 dollars and undercut cable internet even more.

Not likely. They are trying to sublet their remaining floors across the street in the Bell Atlantic Tower. Most of the employees have already been relocated to Verizon buildings in the suburbs. The city real estate was too expensive.

They also recently sold their HQ building at 42nd and Sixth Ave in NY and moved most of the employees to the old AT&T HQ in north Jersey. The CEO moved his office to the Verizon building across from the World Trade center at 140 West St.

daveydoo · #63 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

That "hole" is formed by what is in essence a bridge connecting the hotel tower to the office tower. That's gonna be one helluva roof garden on that bridge, though -- betcha it will prove a popular spot for fundraising parties!

The other function it serves is giving some "light & air" to the apartments (Those are apartments, right?) across the street. It should head off some of the objections that are sure to be forthcoming.

Voodoo · #64 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giovanni sasso

much like comcast center's 15 and 17 story floors.

How high is a 15 story floor?

Jayfar · #65 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyBoy

Not likely. They are trying to sublet their remaining floors across the street in the Bell Atlantic Tower. Most of the employees have already been relocated to Verizon buildings in the suburbs. The city real estate was too expensive.

They also recently sold their HQ building at 42nd and Sixth Ave in NY and moved most of the employees to the old AT&T HQ in north Jersey. The CEO moved his office to the Verizon building across from the World Trade center at 140 West St.

They're moving jobs to Center City, but to 9th & Race where they had plenty of free space, since digital switching equipment is orders of magnitude more compact that the old mechanical relay switches the building originally housed.

Quote:

Verizon moving 403 jobs from suburbs to city in Phila.
January 22, 2008 12:57 PM ET

Verizon Communications Inc. will shuffle 403 jobs from Philadelphia's suburbs and relocate them into Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter announced Tuesday.

The employees are now working in Ardmore, Conshohocken and Upper Darby, Pa., and are expected to relocate by June into 900 Race St., where Verizon already has offices.

R8CHEL · #66 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:18 PM

This looks awesome... And I love the "hole". Kinda reminds me of the arc de la defense in paris.

niel · #67 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeInBH

This is amazing! What really surprised me was that LSNA, which flipped out over the River City project, seems generally supportive of this much better design.

I think the main problem people had with River City was that that project proposed a whole line of tall buildings marching right past residential blocks of 3-story homes, right down to the river. This building, on the other hand, would go right in the middle of a district of tall buildings, with very few small, rowhouse-scale structures close by.

B Love's coverage indicates at least cautious support (preliminarily) from LSNA, so let's not jump all over them and assume the worst before the neighbors have had a chance to discuss it.

PBJ says this would be taller than the Empire State...*really*??

niel · #68 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:33 PM

Incidentally, did anyone notice this enticing nugget from the PBJ article, concerning the commitment of a movie theater tenant?

Quote:

The theater, based on a new concept emerging from Australia, would have eight screens that can seat 18 to 40 people each and offer light fare, spirits and first-run movies.

How sweet would that be?

MayfairMeat · #69 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:40 PM

Well, turn this around.

Building the structure itself will make it desirable because it will be on major transit lines, it will be LEED, it has an attached hotel for corporate guests, perfect meeting space, and the price for square footage is going to be at rock bottom prices compared to DC, Boston, New York...

If you're looking to open up shop in the Northeast US... this building would be a good place to look at if you wanted quality office space in a central location with access to talent across the entire region.

In other words: Duh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eldondre

Maybe that will be the marketing angle in a bid to get Verizon to move thei NYC HQ here.
as for office demand, sure, space is tight but that's been largely driven by the medical and educational institutions, not a growing private sector.
I just read this morning that Philly ranked 12th in desirable locations. It lagged mostly in a moribund commercial sector and entreprenurial spirit. and there's this admission:

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/20 08/03/17/story1.html?b=1205726400^1604307

Jeffy3 · #70 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 01:56 PM

Does anyone think the part about the theaters being so small is accurate?